Funding secured to help carers achieve goals
Support to help carers achieve their personal goals is now available through Dudley Carers’ Hub and Wellbeing Service with the support of Just Straight Talk.
The Dudley Council-run hub supports unpaid carers of all ages who are caring for a loved one or friend.
During the pandemic it worked with local organisation Just Straight Talk (JST) to help carers develop their online skills and connect with other carers and services from home.
Just Straight Talk recently secured £65,000 over the next three years from the National Lottery Community Fund to extend the support it provides through its new ‘yours truly’ project.
The project will allow Just Straight Talk to work with the hub to help carers identify personal and vocational goals outside their caring role and support them to achieve these.
It could help them increase their social skills, improve their health and wellbeing, enrol and complete courses as well as support them to secure financial stability and look at volunteering or paid work opportunities where circumstances allow.
Councillor Patrick Harley, leader elect of Dudley Council, said:
We want to support every carer in this borough who gives their all every day to supporting the person they care for.
The yours truly project is about helping them to take some time for themselves, which we know can be incredibly hard to do.
We will support and mentor carers in exploring the most suitable and practical options but will always consider the requirements of their caring role.
Kate Beale, Managing Director of Just Straight Talk, said:
Working closely with Dudley Council and the Carers Hub, JST is very pleased to have been awarded funding for this three-year project, via the National Lottery Community Fund. This vital support will ensure carers' futures and lives are valued with reaching and achieving their own goals.